UTEP men's basketball: Miners put trust in sophomore center's effort

Cedrick Lang took almost a month off after last year's basketball season ... just some leisurely time that included an occasional run on a treadmill, maybe a little time on the exercise bike and, of course, plenty of time in the weightroom.

That's Lang's idea of time off.

UTEP's big sophomore is healthy now and hoping to stay that way and he is excited by the potential of this Miner basketball team. He and his teammates are especially excited about Thursday night's date with No. 12 Arizona in Tucson.

But the 6-foot-9, broad-bodied (250 pounds) inside player could not begin to get ready for Arizona or anyone else until he took that "time off" after last season. Lang played the final month with a stress fracture in his right foot.

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Bill Knight

He could have opted out early, rested that foot. Most players would.

Not Lang. Not his way.

The young man from Sioux Falls, S.D., simply worked his way through it -- riding a stationary bike during practice, watching intently when his teammates went over the game plan. Then, on game day, it was tape and guts and go. Lang did not miss a single game last season.

"Ced is a guy we've found out we can trust every game out in terms of effort," UTEP coach Tim Floyd said.

"We know we can count on him to make great passes, to set screens, to game plan, to rebound and he will steal you some baskets. Ced is not going to make mistakes. We just love him and we are thrilled with who he is going to be in the coming years."

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Lang is one of those special players ... one that some fans sometimes miss out on. He does those little things, the grunt work. He makes the extra pass. He blocks someone out. Maybe he does not get the rebound, but a teammate does. He sets picks that make one want to call the whiplash police.

It is little wonder that once his "month off" was done last spring, Lang went back to what he has always known -- hard work.

"I stayed here and went to summer school in June," he said. "But then I went back home and worked out with my old high school coach, Steve Krier. I'd get up early and run with him. He's been running a long time, so he would really push me. I'd lift weights. Then I'd go to open gym and we'd just work on my post moves -- over and over and over.

"I've worked with him every summer since the seventh grade," Lang said. "He was a teacher and you could tell when he had a bad day in the classroom (laughter). He's a screamer. He'd yell. He's a hard-nosed guy. Because of that, I can take it when coaches yell at me. They are just trying to make you better."

Last year's young Miner team, with Lang in the middle, continued to get better. Lang and the Miners, in just the second game of this regular season, face a nationally ranked team in Arizona.

"I'm excited," he said. "I'm excited for this game, for this first road game, for this season. Last year, everybody said we were young. We can't use that excuse anymore. Last year was good, but it was hard at the end, not having a ball in your hands (at practice). The exercise bike is not like playing. You really had to pay attention when they were going over the game plan.

"But we're all excited about this year," he said. "We still have a lot of potential, and we still have a long way to go. The main thing we have to do is keep playing defense. And our offense will come. I feel last year's playing experience has helped me."

Floyd agrees: "The confidence Ced got from being out there in games last year -- and he was in big games -- has been invaluable."

The Miners are about to rip into the truly challenging part of their schedule. It will be difficult. One thing, though, will be a constant ... Lang will be there in the middle, blocking out, setting that screen, making that extra pass, getting the tough rebound ... working hard.

It is simply what he does, even when he is taking a little time off.

Bill Knight may be reached at bknight@elpasotimes.com; 546-6171. Follow him on Twitter @BillKnightept.